More than three decades after his death, the Spanish couturier Cristobal Balenciaga (1895-1972) has become a legendary figure in the history of 20th century fashion. His name is now a byword for clothes executed to the highest standards and characterized by their sculptural quality, deft manipulation of textiles, and dramatic use of colour. This absorbing new book, with breathtaking illustrations, examines Balenciaga's design and business practice, placing him firmly in the context of the time and country in which he learnt his trade and the international fashion scene in which he subsequently matured and triumphed. It accompanies the major exhibition The Golden Age of Couture, opening at the V&A in September 2007.